Insulated wire stripper



Sept. 15, 1936. E. J. WIGGlNs 2,054,529

INSULATED WIRE STRIPPER Filed July 2, 1934 0 "551' z8 A; 22 Z6 17 J7 Patented sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES INSULATED WIRE STRIIPER Edward J. Wiggins, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Loten-stone Sales Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Iliinois Application July 2, 1934, Serial No. 733,436

. 2 Claims.

This invention relates to insulated wire strippers and has for its principal object the pro-v vision of an improved wire stripper which can be economically and simply made and assembled, and which is convenient and eiiicient in use.

The invention will readily be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which l Figure 1 is a plan view of my stripper showing a piece of insulated wire inserted for stripping;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the l5 line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the end of the wire partly stripped;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the stripper with the cover plate removed.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I8 designates a base plate which is provided with a marginal skirt I I to form a housing I2l within the base for the reception of the more delicate parts which might be damaged by accidental blows and impacts if left exposed.

The base plate I0 is preferably of the form shown, having a rear apical portion I3 provided with an opening for the reception of a screw I4 whereby it may be secured to a wall or bench I5. In the center of the front edge opposite the apical portion I3, the base' is provided with a lug I6 which is also perforated for the reception of a mounting screw I1.

A block I8 integral with the base plate I0 extends upwardly therefrom adjacent the front of the plate I0. The block I8 is provided with a 4Q -central bore I9 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the base and parallel thereto. The bore I9 is non-round and may suitably be square in cross-section. This bore receives with a sliding fit a rod 20 of similar shape. This rod is relatively long and carries at its end an integral plate 2l which is intended to serve as a stop for the end,of the wire being stripped. The rod is held in desired position of adjustment by means of a set screw 22 which is threaded into an opening extending from the upper face of the block I8 into the bore I9. i

A pair of bosses 23 are formed integral with the block I8 and with the plate III. These bosses are located at the rear corners of the block I8 and are somewhat lower than the block. The block I8 is formed with recesses 24 at these corners for the reception of the enlarged portions of posts 25, which portions are preferably of thesame diameter as the bosses 23, as best seen in Fig.

5. The lower portions 28 of the posts 25 are of 5 smaller diameter than the upper portions 25 and they are received with a free working fit in axial boresl 21 in the bosses 23.

-The lower extremities of the posts 25 are still further reduced and, after assembly of the posts 10 in the bosses 23,'these extremities are peened over on washers 28 which are larger than the bores 21 and, consequently, hold the posts in the assembly. The washers 28 have radially directed arms 29, the ends of which are turned downwardly 15 and provided with openings 30. A spring 3l is provided, the ends of which extend into the openings 30. The spring 3| comprises a central coil which is mounted on a pin 32 projecting downwardly from the plate IIJ behind the screw 20 I4. Adjacent its forward edge the plate I0 also carries pins 33'which project downwardly also. The pins 32 and 33 are preferably integral with the plate I0. Their lower extremities are reduced and extend into openings in a cover plate 34. 25 These extremities are peened over to hold the cover plate in position.

The upper portions of the posts 25 are provided with diametrieal slots 34' which receive knives 35. The sharp or beveled edges of the knives 30 35 are directed inwardly in apposition, the beveled faces 36 being preferably forwardly directed. The knives 35 are slidable in the slots 34 and are held in position by screws 31, threaded into openings 38, which extend from the upper faces of the 35 posts 25 into the slots 34', the lower ends of the screws 31 bearing against the upper edges of the knives 35. It will readily be understood that the distance between the edges of the knives can readily be adjusted by merely loosening the 4 screws 31, moving the knives 35 to desired position and tightening the screws 31 again. It will be understood that the distance between the edges of the knives 35 should be approximately the diameter of the wire, that is, the metallic part of the wire which is to be stripped. It may be noted, however, that this adjustment is not critical since it is found that the wire is effectively stripped with a somewhat wider spacing of the knives 35.

The lower edge of the slots 34 and the knives 35 is located slightly below the upper surface of the block I8 and the upper part of the rear face of the block I8 is cut away, as shown at 39 in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the forward faces of the 55 knives 35 bear against the block and are held firmly against the pull to which they are subjected during the stripping 'of the insulation from the wire. The spring 3| is arranged so as to bias the knives into this position which corresponds to the position of the arms 29 shown in full lines in Fig. 6. When the knives 35 are displaced into the position shown in Fig. 1, the arms 29 are displaced into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 against the action of the spring 3|. The spring 3| and arms 29 are protected from violent treatment by being enclosed within the chamber I2. In order to prevent injury to the arms 29 by an excessive displacement of the knives 35 from their normal position, which may occur by any impact applied tov the knife 35 or posts 25. I provide abutments 40 on the posts 25 adjacent the outer ends of the slots 34', that is, the ends which are remote from the operative edges of the knives 35. These abutments 40 arev located so that they come into contact with the outer sides of the block |8 before the arms 29 hit the skirt of the base I0. For simplicity of manufacture I provide abutments lli on diametrically opposite positions on the posts 25.

It is to be noted that the wire stripper is not provided with any guide in front of the knives 35, the reason being that the present device is selfcentering and equally eective no matter whether the presented end of insulated wire hits one knife or the other knife or exactly in the center of the space between the two knives.

'I'he operation of the stripper is as follows: The stripper being mounted on a suitable support, the set screw 22 is loosened and the rod 23 is moved so as to locate the plate 2| from the normal position of the knives 35, anxaxnount approximately equal to the length of wire which it is desired to strip. The screw 22 is then tightened in position. If necessary, the spacing of the knives 35 is adjusted so as to adapt them to work on wire being used, lwhich will depend upon the 1 gauge of the wire. 'I'he end of the wire is then is continued until the end of the insulated wire hits the plate 2|. This condition is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and it is to be noted that the knives 35 are deflected inwardly and bear against the insulation 4| of the wire 42. The wire is then 5 pulled rearwardly with the result that the edges of the knives 35 cut into the insulation and hold it against withdrawal, as shown in Fig. 3. Continued withdrawal of the wire eifectively strips the endand leaves the separated piece of insulation behind the knives 35.

An important feature of the present invention is the fact that all the adjustment screws are directed upwardly, which facilitates the adJustment of the various elements and eil'ectively prevents possibility of injury to the operator since the screw driver is directed away from him towards the bench or the like I5.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specic details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so ,far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An insulated wire stripper comprising a base having a housing therein, a pair of posts mounted in said base and having reduced ends projecting into said housing, a knife on each post, washers v rigidly mounted on said posts within the housing,

arms carried by said washers, and spring means acting on said arms tending to maintain said knives in apposition.

2. An insulated wire stripper comprising a base having a housing therein, a pair of posts mounted in said base and having reduced endsprojecting into said housing, a knife on each post, washers rigidly mounted on said posts within the housing, radial arms carriedb'y said washers, said arms having their ends turned up and having openings therein, and a spring within the housing having portions extending freely into said openings to tend to hold said knives in apposition.

EDWARD J. WIGGINS. 

